As I write this, I'm watching the World Series post-game show. Congrats to
the Chicago White Sox and their fans, specifically FBG staff writers Rudnicki
and Wood.

Let's get to it.

From Greg A.
Can you please give the Bucs some credit? They have the best record in the NFC
and you rank them 15th. Like it or not, they are 5-1, so they have to be doing
some things right. You keep hinting that they will fall apart, but their defense
is lights out and with Caddy/Pittman, the running game is above average. Put
them where they deserve, which is at least in the top ten. And stop ranking
teams on what you think they will do but rank them on what they have done. I
am not saying they are going to win the Super Bowl or that they are the best
team in the league, but they need to be given some credit.

I hear you, and I understand that it's frustrating for Bucs fans to see their
team sit at 5-1 and be ranked in the middle of the pack when it comes to rankings
like this. The problem lies in our interpretation of power rankings.

To me, they are different from say, college football rankings. That is based
solely on what teams have done, with preseason expectations coming into play
somewhat. With this, I truly rank each team in terms of how "powerful"
I think they are. I try to assume each team plays one another on a neutral setting,
and who do I think would win. In the case of the Bucs, I don't think they'd
beat any of the teams ahead of them, and I don't think they'd lost to the teams
behind them.

Their five wins are against teams that are a combined 11-20, while their loss
came to the hapless Jets. I admit, I've mentioned several times before that
you can't control who you play, so teams shouldn't be penalized for beating
inferior opponents. It's just that that Bucs were fortunate to even win two
of those games and hardly have dominated inferior competition.

Additionally, they've got a tough stretch coming up following the game against
San Francisco this week. If the Bucs win a tough game in the next few weeks
and maintain a good record, rest assured - they will move up. But at this point
I don't think they are as good as their record would indicate. I'd much rather
keep them stagnant than move them up a few notches each week they win only to
lower them if/when they begin losing with regularity.

Any other comments/questions/complaints/death threats should be e-mailed to
me at the following address: brown@footballguys.com.
If selected, your e-mail will appear in this space next week.

Rk - Team Name - Record (Last week)

Indianapolis Colts 7-0 (1)Who'd have thought that someone who owns both Peyton Manning AND the Colts
defense would be happier with the production out of the latter?

Thank you, that was my 'obvious statement of the week' portion of the column.

Pittsburgh Steelers 4-2 (5)
Congratulations Steelers. You're once again the second-best team in the AFC.

Cincinnati Bengals 5-2 (2)
After getting drubbed like that, most teams would move down more than one
spot. But I'm thinking maybe it's just that Pittsburgh is THAT good.

Denver Broncos 5-2 (3)
Mike Anderson (in his best Jack Nicholson voice), to fantasy owners who wrote
him off: "You <messed> with the wrong marine!"

New England Patriots 3-3 (4)
They should get back on track with a home game against Buffalo this week.
Of course, if they don't, a precipitous drop awaits.

Atlanta Falcons 5-2 (6)
They're here for now, and will likely be a high playoff seed but the
defense I expected to be dominant is not going to be there when they need
it, I'm afraid.

Washington Redskins 4-2 (11)
Am I still a fool for putting this team in the top-10 several weeks ago?

Seattle Seahawks 5-2 (12)
As noted in The Profit last week, I'm suddenly on board for the Seahawks.
I think that they're being underestimated because of their history, and they're
actually pretty good! (Now I'm crossing my fingers that they won't make me
look like an idiot this week)

Dallas Cowboys 4-3 (9)
Uh yeah, so what was that ending all about?

San Diego Chargers 3-4 (10)
I know I'll be accused of homerism here, but the Chargers are as good a team
as anyone in the league. Regardless of schedule difficulty, this team WILL
make the playoffs. That's in blood, in stone, whatever.

Carolina Panthers 4-2 (13)
Note to Carolina: If you tell the Vikings that you'll provide them with a
post-game spread, make sure they know you're talking about food.

(And no, around these parts jokes like this will never die. They'll just get
recycled until you're sick of me OK, MORE sick of me.)

Kansas City Chiefs 4-2 (14)
A win this week, and I'll have to find a way to get them into the top ten.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-1 (15)
If the Bucs don't intercept Dorsey at least 7 times this week, it'll be an
enormous failure.

New York Giants 4-2 (17)
The Giants have played a very impressive two drives the past two games. Now
if they could do something about those first 55 minutes, they'd be really
good.

Saint Louis Rams 3-4 (18)
This is the line of demarcation that separates the good teams in the league
from the crappy ones. The Rams are part of the crap.

Detroit Lions 3-3 (22)
It's almost a mockery that

Chicago Bears 3-3 (25)
one of these teams is going to win a division title.

Miami Dolphins 2-4 (16)
Remember when the Dolphins were good? Like, a few weeks ago?

Buffalo Bills 3-4 (19)
There has never been such a demand for someone of Kelly Holcomb's stature
to play in the history of the league.

Oakland Raiders 2-4 (20)
So, THIS is what LaMont Jordan can do with an opportunity.

Minnesota Vikings 2-4 (27)
All that proves is that they can beat the awful Packers. That's it.

Arizona Cardinals 2-4 (28)
I don't want to make a big thing out of it, but I'm starting at RB for Arizona
this weekend. So like, watch for me and stuff.

Tennessee Titans 2-5 (26)
For some real high comedy, check out the latest Titans' injury news on our
Blogger from October 15th on. I half expect to read that Ernest Givens was
electrocuted doing the electric slide.

Green Bay Packers 1-5 (29)
I said the following last week:
"Don't know why, but I have a good feeling about Ahman Green the rest
of the way."

Well, I suppose it's a good thing for him that he doesn't have to be a part
of this embarrassment anymore.

New Orleans Saints 2-5 (30)
I heard ESPN crying about the NFL costing the Saints games the other night,
and I thought to myself "Hmmm, could it also be that the Saints
are just very very bad?"

San Francisco 49ers 1-5 (31)
Watch for this team in 2012.

Houston Texans 0-6 (32)
Watch for this team in 2018.

Super Shufflers Of the Week (+)

Chicago Bears +6 It's weird, but there is definitely an offense bias.
That is, if the Bears had a great offense and a horrific defense instead of
the other way around, they'd probably be thought of more highly.

Detroit Lions +4 Just getting Harrington out of the lineup bumped them
two spots.

Pittsburgh Steelers +3 The Steelers have lost once to a largely-intact
Patriots team, and once without their starting QB. I think it's safe to say
I underrated them.

Plungers Of the Week (-)

Miami Dolphins -4 Just not clicking in any aspect of the game right
now. The short week was supposed to benefit the home team, right? Right?

Many teams tied with -2 A two-point drop is nothing huge, and isn't
worth elaborating on for each team. They just lost, that's all.